AUDIO
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Archbishop Peter Jensen's Christmas Message 2011 on the centrality of Jesus to human history
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Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people… (Galatians 6:10)
I used to walk to work through a back alley in an impoverished neighbourhood. It was an ugly place, and the overfull bins always seemed to have tipped over, spilling their foul contents into the lane. My nose was assaulted every day by the nauseating, sickly-sweet odour of the garbage. I did not enjoy this walk, but it was the shortest path to work.
As a new Christian, my conscience was troubled by the spilled garbage. I had learned that I must “do good to all people” and “love my neighbour”. So should I stop every morning, stain my crisp white business shirt, and shovel up the garbage by hand? Wouldn’t that be loving?
It sounds bit ridiculous in hindsight, but at the time this question really bothered me. Really, we are faced with decisions like this every day. There are unlimited opportunities to “do good” in this very broken world. Am I obliged to attempt them all? If not, how do I choose?
To answer these questions, we need to recognise that we have different degrees of obligation in different relationships. For example, Scripture states that I have a special obligation to provide for my children, which is why it would be wrong for me to starve them in order to feed someone else. A bit of thought will show this principal applies in other areas of life too.
Regarding the spilled rubbish, it occurred to me that I actually had an obligation to my employer, both to arrive on time, and also in a fit state to work. Scripture enjoins us to work hard in order to earn our own keep (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10) - something we could not do if we neglected work in order to practice random acts of kindness. Indeed, diligently performing my work is a means of loving my neighbour, by providing him with services, by paying taxation, and by supporting myself and my family rather than being a burden on the community.
Some people are never bothered by these questions. They effortlessly and intuitively navigate the various responsibilities of life. But others are plagued by feelings of guilt and failure as they try to do everything for everyone. Yet we can’t do everything, and it is a mark of wisdom and maturity to recognise that, to make these sometimes difficult decisions, then to be at peace.
I'd rather question my motives regularly rather than growing cold to the needs of those around me. Proverbs 3:27 tells me,
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
It's my responsibility as a follower of Christ to be continually looking for those to whom I can do good.
@Shane & Craig: Though I oppose nothing you've written, I foresee a danger - that right-wing 'Christians' (I use inverted commas here, since without them we're left with an oxymoron) hijack your arguments to try to justify their own callous disregard for the poor and oppressed.
Craig: in your story, I bet that if you saw a homeless person prostrate among the garbage, you'd take the time and trouble to rescue them; never mind the crisp, clean shirt or being late to work!
Unbeknown to those taking part in the experiment, they were given instructions to preach a sermon. They had to go to another building on campus to deliver the sermon though. Along the way, someone was planted as having collapsed. The experiment was to see how the seminariams would react.
A number of variables were used in the experiment, including the subject of the sermon - some were told to preach on the Good Samaritan. However the most telling variable that affected whether the seminariam would stop to help the person in distress was time. Apparently those who were given their final instruction telling them that they were late and needed to hurry demonstrated least liklihood to stop and help - even those preaching on the Good Samaritan!
I suppose the lesson is that the busyness of life can shut out the needs right in front of our very eyes. It's important that we prime our hearts regularly so that we are ready to see.
I think the point Jesus was making is that you can always help people because they will always be there to help - it's a fallen world. And like the fact that we strive to obey Christ we can never achieve it perfectly, nor can we ever help everyone who needs help. I think it was just a bit of pragmatism from Jesus.